lowering questions

[s13_vert_92]

so im trying to decide which way to go about lowering my vert. its my daily driver so what ever is good for day to day street use. i dont have much money, so i dont want name brand..but should i just go with lowering springs? can i suse the stock shocks with them? any ideas or know-how will help tremendously..thanks guys!

[Crazyirish]

Stock shocks wont last long with any significant lowering. Whats your budget?

[pj]

you need to save some money.
figure about 1-1200 to lower it properly.
coilovers/ruca/alighnment.

springs or spring/shock combos are a waste of money...for one because you will end up buying coils eventually anyway so whatever you spend on springs/shocks are just throw away money

[breadbox]

Also be aware of what lowering does to the rest of the suspension. I have a 2" drop and no other mods on my daily and am about to have to deal with what the negative camber has done to my tires. And I need adjustable arms now, but then I can go lower.

[krash]

springs or spring/shock combos are a waste of money...for one because you will end up buying coils eventually anyway so whatever you spend on springs/shocks are just throw away money

Not really...... Good spring/shock combo > cheap coils.

Scour the classifieds dude.

[s13_vert_92]

damn..i just have to look at this hideous wheel-well gap every day

[breadbox]

get bigger tire walls, get less gap. :P

[s13_vert_92]

lol i figured someone would say that. i just wanna go sideways over speed bumps

[OutToWinPAHC]

I agree. You will want a good coilover, with a not so aggressive spring rate. Perhaps 8/6 over 10/8's. Then you want to keep the alignment specs close to stock if its your daily, so now you need to compensate for this with adjustable arms of quality. However I used to have AGX's and Tein Stechs, and they rode amazing... just want low.

[s13_vert_92]

ill just throw some cinder blocks and cast iron weights in the trunk and engine bay to lower it :P

[K3Fallout]

By adjustable arms, does it mean it's necessary to get everything? RUCAs, tension rods, toe rods, etc.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Depends on how low. RUCA's are a yes, Tow and traction rods are borderline depending on height, Tension rods are a yes when you go lower then 2 inches. I didn't need them until I went with coils

[pj]

Not really...... Good spring/shock combo > cheap coils.

s***, if you say so. if your talking about dropping coin on koni's and that sort of package i could beleive it...but you going to drop quite a bit on somthing thats comfy and performs but has no height adjustment and (arguable) limited damper adjustment, for what thats worth.
id rather have a set of megan streets, for like 800 bux than any LS/shock combo...i mean s***, PBMs are only a grand...pbm vs. spring/shock combo and id take coilovers any day of the week...
the way things are now hes going to drop more than half of what hed pay for coils, get tired of them AND get tired of people telling him to get coils...hes going to junk them, lose his money and end up buying coils instead anyway.
so again i say, dont bother with that s***, buy coils or deal with 4x4 status till you can.

[s13_vert_92]

so your saying its going to ride like a 4x4? if thats the case, im down..i traded a 91 ranger with a 4 inch lift that was 4x4 for the car. and i LOVED everything about that truck..the ride was just part of the experience

[pj]

and my earlier quote is low, so you probably thought i was talking about some ebay specials or somthing i dunno.
OP i take it back, 1500 i should have said. coils, ruca, alignment...all the other arms arent necesarry at first...replace those as you go.
but if you go with spring/shock...i do recomend konis...i had some and they blow out the usual tokico crap imo...tien springs are decent but its mostly name hype...and you can find lower drops

[pj]

so your saying its going to ride like a 4x4?

lol i was refering to your wheel gap... ...dont feel bad tho man, the s14 i got recently has MAJOR wheel gap among other uglyness, so were in the same boat

[-RJ-]

I would have to agree with just saving up with coils. Thats what I did with my vert, though I waited about 5 months I think. I dropped it about 3 to 4 inches to make the wheels flush with the body. The only problem I have right now is camber wear, so after I buy me a new back window I am definitely getting me some form of RUCA.

[KoukiTony]

get Stance LX+ coils. I have them on my daily and they're the smoothest daily coils ever and can go very low

[motoman399]

im going to go against everyone else. if this is your daily, and you dont have a lot of money. just get lowering springs. if your struts are in good shape, it will ride fine. if they arent in good shape, then it rides like crap anyways but lowering it wont help that ride.

find some used for under 100 shipped and then when you are ready for better suspension sell them for what you paid for them. you obviously arent going to get the same performance from a lowering spring compared to a coilover setup, but it will work till you get more moneyz.

[s13_vert_92]

exactly..i dont need my drop to help with performance i just want the lower look. i dont plan on hookin curves going 65 expecting to stay planted or anything lol i just want the car to be lower..without breaking the bank. i can get ebay lowering springs for like $45. like i said, im not worried about the ride, or performance..just want to go lower

[OutToWinPAHC]

No those will make you die..... if your gonna go with shock springs you have to use a spring designed for the car with the proper rates. Go with a known brand same for struts when you blow yours out.

None of these death traps

[s13_vert_92]

lol screw it..i cant afford a drop, and NOONE around here has anything for these cars..so its not like i can get ahold of used performance parts. i guess i will just have to get bigger tires

[OutToWinPAHC]

Perhaps it time for a better job?

[s13_vert_92]

in this economy? im lucky to have the job i got man.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Well if you cant afford to modify don't cut corners and do it half assed. We have enough dangerous people on the road, we dont need unsafe cars too. Best bet is don't do it, or save up and wait for a deal/

[breadbox]

ill just throw some cinder blocks and cast iron weights in the trunk and engine bay to lower it :P

I've done that mod before. insta 3/4 drop.

[motoman399]

dont buy ebay brand springs. my friend bought some for his s13, he paid 80ish for them. they werent the adjustable ones, they were just a direct replacement spring that claimed something like 2" lowering. we put them on and it raised it.

if you are going to get some get a name brand (skunk 2, tein, tanabe (thats what i have), megan, ect) and it will work fine for what you are after. and you will notice a performance gain out of them. just save your money a little. even making crap wages you can afford 45 bucks so just wait 1 or 2 months and get some real ones. it will be worth it. and like i said cruise the classifieds on here and get a deal. im sure you can get a set for under 100 shipped.

[krash]

Not really...... Good spring/shock combo > cheap coils.

s***, if you say so. if your talking about dropping coin on koni's and that sort of package i could beleive it...

Thats actually exactly what I was talking about. Good call

But I'm assuming the OP is like me.....Cheap as hell.

[costa_rican13]

ill just throw some cinder blocks and cast iron weights in the trunk and engine bay to lower it :P

I've done that mod before. insta 3/4 drop.

i was waiting for you to post this up! lulz to the OP, just save up. it took me 4 months to save up for my coils i bought. look on our sponsors websites, frpsort.com and enjukuracing.com. they have some pretty awesome deals.

[s13_vert_92]

thanks guys, i hate to come off as a cheap douche lol i just didnt know if there was an easy, cheap way to go about lowering my car. ill attempt to save up the best i can. but again, thanks for the comments and know how